Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-03

school item, and added S2S. 600 to the amount
asked for the lower grade schools in the estimates
the Senate adds ss 600, to which the conferees Of
the House are perfectly willing to agree; but to
that other clause which would enable the District
commissioners to sell $150OOO worth of District
ground and invest the money in any real estate
they might select, the House cOnferees, in the
present fever E for real estate speculation in the
District OF Columbia, refused to agree.
ave believe such buildings should be ordered by
Congress- representing the taxpayers and people
nf the District, not by limiting their location to
any particular SITE perhaps but at least by deter
mining their location in the several school diyts
ions OF the District o. Columbia with reference to
the necessity and interests OF the school popua-
uon OF the District"
AS TO ACCOMMODATION IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
"Now,1 want to say word in passing about these
statements that have been sent broadcast over the
country to the effect that there is insufficient ac-
cOmmOdadOn in the District for school children
The trustees Of the public schools in their last re-
enc1es OF the public schools OF the District in which
they said there were large number of schools that
resent that many thousand children OF both colors
In the District were shamefulIy curtailed in their
school facilities Yet these same officials have
subsequently stated, when the committees OF both
Houses have sought to widen the basis Of the
school system by declining at present ap-
that no child OF either color has been denied school,
ing during the present year because Of scant ia
cilities.
The first statement was true but vet was not
the whole truth, because very large number Of
those children who attend halliday schools are the
children In the lowest grades, from 6 to years
OF age who, II every square In the city had school
building on 1t, ought not to be more than half
day In school, and for whom there should not be
more than half days attendance permitted. no
matter how thickly Congress might sprinkle this
city with school buildings The statement there
fore although literally true did not tell the whole
cesslties OF the District of Columbia"
Another Senate amendment to which the House
conierees M reiuse TO agree Is one increasing from
GOO to $l25 600 the appropriation for engineers
etc., for the water supply.
PROTEST AGAINST 'CLAw-HAMMER" NFLUENCE
MI. Henderson in his remarks protested against
what he termed the arrogance OF the Senators in
their treatment Of the House conferees ssrhe
Senators" he said, 'tseem to have annexed the
District OF Columbia to themselves and assume to
run II all on their own account. They do not
seem 10 recognize the right OF the House to inter-
1ere rms, no doubt, arises from the Incidence
ana the lhdfHerence which the House has usually
shown toward the affairs of the District of Colum
bia. anyhow, when We go over there as your con-
Continuing, MIR. Henderson said: This is becom-
Ing predy ar1StOcrat1c capital, and the wealth
and the aristocracy Of the northwest section
shape and influence Its legislation and its govern
ment. The claw-hammer element is running the
interests OF this city, while the great mass OF the
people can hardly get access to the strangers gal
ana influences that reach the law-making power
are pied up In the great palaces and mansions OF
VHC Aoi enWcoe. IN CONSIDERATION OF tllS JeHQeHCy
we nave INSISTED upon change OF policy.
Ine Dlstr1ct commissioners have hitherto been
accommO0ated with an appropriation in gross for
the improvement OF streets, and they placed that
money JUST where they pleased. II Tom Jones
could go down to the District Commissioners
once To-Day and learn from his friend the Com
missioner what particular street was going to be
improved with this money, it was good enough
business for MI. Jones to GO of and buy up every
available inch OF ground in the neighb0rhOod OF
the Improvement. In q short time he could sell it
aC Clear pr0nt OF twenty-five cents square foot
almost within the sound OF my voice. With this
sort OF case before us we demanded that the
commissioners give us their theory OF eXpend1-
lures; tnat Is, take Congress little into their
commence, and say how, when and where they
10 SPEND THE MONEY,
wnetner they proposed to improve the streets
principally In the northwest or In the southeast
There was good deal OF trouble about 1t, but
y nnaily @ they brought IN card showing that they
would distribute the 100000 for street improve
ments IN tnis way: Georgetown, $4,000; WASH
tngton, southwest, &42,5OO: southeast, s6O, 400;
n0rtheaSf, $47,6O0, and the northwest, $10O 500.
we prOo0Ce0 this modification: Georgetown,
sa9ogi ~ % %Wasn1ngton southwest, 10000 south
west, ,0O0. and sin think we were liberal
with the northwest.
East Of the Capitol there are beautiful parkA
wnere tor the greater part OF the year horse and
buggy VIII sink to the hub In prtmeval mud. But
tne n0rtnWest pays most OF the taxes, say the
claW-1ammer gentry. That's no reason why the
rest OF the federal city should be neglected. say
we. according to the plan OF the Commissioners
New Hampshire avenue in the northwest, which
Is mostly barren and uninhabited waste, was to
oe improved, while no provision whatever was TO
oe maoe Tor Lhe Improvement Of New Jersey ave.